Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd. today announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has accepted for review the company’s Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for SB3, a biosimilar candidate referencing Herceptin® (trastuzumab). Herceptin® is a monoclonal antibody (mAb) indicated for the treatment of early breast cancer, metastatic breast cancer and metastatic gastric cancer. The MAA for SB3 was submitted in August 2016.
“Trastuzumab remains vital in treating breast cancer, the most prevalent form of cancer affecting women across Europe,” said Christopher Hansung Ko, President & CEO of Samsung Bioepis. “If approved, we hope our affordable, high-quality medicine will help realize the promise of biosimilars for breast cancer patients across Europe by widening patient access to this important, life-enhancing treatment option.”
SB3 is Samsung Bioepis’ fifth biosimilar candidate submitted to the EMA, following SB4 (etanercept), SB2 (infliximab), SB9 (insulin glargine) and SB5 (adalimumab). SB4 and SB2 have since received regulatory approval from the European Commission (EC).i SB3 is also the company’s first oncology biosimilar candidate submitted for regulatory review in Europe. If approved, the marketing and distribution of SB3 in Europe will be handled by Merck, which is known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada.
Samsung Bioepis Biosimilar Pipeline
Samsung Bioepis continues to advance a broad pipeline of 13 biosimilar candidates, which includes the following six first-wave candidates that cover the therapeutic areas of immunology, oncology and diabetes:
Commercialization of Samsung Bioepis Biosimilars
Samsung Bioepis is responsible for the development and manufacture of all immunology and oncology biosimilar candidates in its pipeline, as well as global clinical trials and regulatory registration in all markets worldwide for these biosimilar candidates. Following approval, Samsung Bioepis biosimilar products are marketed and distributed by its commercialization partners, Biogen and Merck, which is known as MSD outside the United States and Canada.
Manufacturing of Samsung Bioepis Biosimilars
Samsung Bioepis and Biogen have a manufacturing partnership which brings together Samsung Bioepis’ technical leadership in manufacturing process development and Biogen’s rich heritage and expertise in manufacturing biologics. Samsung Bioepis’ biosimilars are manufactured in the same state-of-the-art drug substance facilities that have manufactured Biogen’s biologic medicines.
About Samsung Bioepis Co., Ltd.
Established in 2012, Samsung Bioepis is a biopharmaceutical company committed to realizing healthcare that is accessible to everyone. Through innovations in product development and a firm commitment to quality, Samsung Bioepis aims to become the world's leading biopharmaceutical company. Samsung Bioepis continues to advance a broad pipeline of 13 biosimilar candidates that include six first-wave candidates that cover the therapeutic areas of immunology, oncology and diabetes. Samsung Bioepis is a joint venture between Samsung BioLogics and Biogen. For more information, please visit: www.samsungbioepis.com.